Converter-ladle



(No Model.) 2.Sheets-Sheet 1. I

S. G. COLLIN. CONVERTER LADLE.

No. 429,337. Patented June 3,1890

INVENTOR WITNESSES (No' Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

3.. 0'. COLLIN. CONVERTER LADLE.--

No. 429,337. Patented June 3, 1,890.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

NITED STATES ATENT FFIcn.

SIMON C. COLLIN, OF BRADDOOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTER-LADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 429,337, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed Decemher Z, 1889. Serial No. 332,182. (No model.)

To all whom, it 71mg concern;

Be it known that I, SIMON C. COLLIN, of Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Converter-Ladles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accoinpanging drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a general plan view of a furnace plant provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a like elevation thereof. Fig. .3 is a side view of the converting-ladle, showing it in the operation of blowing. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the converting-ladle, showing it in position for pouring its molten contents.-

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the cover of the converting-ladle. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view of the converting-ladle. Fig.8 is a vertical section on the line VIII VIII of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is adetached plan View of the wind-pipe connection.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved means for refining metal by the Bessemer or pneumatic process; and the fact which has given rise to the invention is the necessity in manyfoundries and steel-casting establishments for small'converters, which details of construction, which will be hereinafter pointed out.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a cupola or smelting-furnace 2, which may be ofany usual construction, and two of my improved converting-ladles, one in position below the spout 3 of the furnace to receive therefrom a charge of molten metal, and the other removed from the furnace and connected with the air-pipe of the blowing apparatus.

I shall now describe the construction of the coi'lverting-ladle, referring especially to the figures on the second sheet of the drawings. The body of the ladle is composed of an outer metal shell 5, having an inner refractory lining, and its preferable shape is that shown in Figs. 7 and 8. From the opposite sides of the ladle extend trunnions 7, adapted to be set on and to be supported by forked recesses at theupperends of the frame lot a truck, which is mounted on wheels and is adapted to be moved about on a suitable track 4, extending from the furnace to the blast-pipe and to the casting-pit. On one of the trunnions 7 is a gear-wheel 8, which is in gear with a pinion 9, whose shaft is journaled to the frame of the truck, and which is prospanner, by means of which the ladle may be tilted on its trunnions to bring it into an upright position for receiving the metal, or into an inclined or horizontal position for receiving an air-blast or for discharging its contents.

The ladle is provided with a cover, as shown in Figs. 5, 6,7, and 8,which consists of an outer metal shell and an inner refractory lining, the shell being provided at its base with flanges b, forming means by which it may be bolted to corresponding flanges at the rim of the la dle-body. On top of the cover, and preferably in the middle thereof, is awind-box13, which may be cast integrally with the metal shell, and is provided with a removable cover held in place by bolts andwedges, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The tuyeres 12 are built in the lining and extend from the wind-box through the cover to the under side thereof. These tuyeres preferably consist of two or more refractory blocks or bricks formed with a suitable number of perforations to permit passage of air.

14 is a hollow neck or pipe, which extends from the wind-box 13, and affords means for the attachmentof the wind-pipe of the blowing apparatus. The cover is also provided with a nose 10 and a hole 11, for receiving and discharging metal, these being preferably situate on opposite sides of the wind-box.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: In order to charge the ladle with metal its truck is moved beneath the cupola,preferably upon the platform 16 of scales, as shown in Fig. 2, and metal is discharged from the furnace into the ladle in suitable quantity, which may be determined by the weight indicated by the scales. The ladle is then moved away on the track and brought opposite to the pipe-connection 15, leading from the air blast apparatus. The hole ll having been stopped with a refractory plug and the pipe 15'connected with the wind-pipe 14, the ladle is tipped on its trunnions into the position shown in Fig. 3,and the air-blast through the body of molten metal is continued until the charge has been properly refined. \Vhen this occurs, the ladle is turned into a more nearly upright position, so as to bring the tuyeres above the surface of the metal, and when the ladle has been moved to the proper placesuch as the casting-pit-the plug is taken from the hole 11 and the refined metal is poured from the ladle into the molds. The position of the ladle in pouring is shown in Fig. 4.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The ladle is simple in its construction, is easy to operate and keep in repair, and is of great advantage for uses such as I have indicated above. hen it is desired to repair the interior lining, the cover may be easily removed; and when desired, by means of a crane the entire ladle may be lifted from its truck.

I do not desire to limit myself specifically to the form and arrangement of the parts which I have shown and described, unless expressly so stated in the several claims, since within the scope of my invention as therein defined many modifications maybe made by those skilled in the art. For example, it is within the scope of my invention to employ a convertingladle constructed as stated in the second and third claims, but without mounting it on wheels.

I clain1 1. A tipping converting-ladle mounted on a truck and having 011 its top a wind-box, tuyeres extending through the top and terminating at or near the inner face thereof, a detachable blast-connection, and a dischargehole, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A tipping converting-ladle having a cover provided with a wind-box, tuyeres extending through the cover from the wind-box and terminating at or near the cover, and a discharge hole or spout, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A tipping converting ladle having a OOVGIFPIOVltlGCl with a wind-box and terminating at or near the cover, tuyeres extending through the cover from the wind-box, and a discharge hole or spout on one side of the wind-box and a nose on the other side of the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 0th day of November, A. l). 188.).

SIMON (.3. COLLIN.

Witnesses:

W. 13. ConwIN, THOMAS \V. BAKEWELL. 

